Available at Urban Hardware
O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 8 , N o . 4 0
Exec Exec ut u Thive Sutive Th ity of mmSum Executivefoure CityfoofureMCilto Sum -yean haMiltonary mary -yearma has The City of inc s six Co r rm termry inco six C Miltoor s whte Executivefour Summary rpor s n po has ounc rasix Cou at ere whe uncilm
tion, ncilm Fulto -year term ever re ev embeilm ion, emb Fuslto y tw n Cth ers thMayor n Co The City of Milton has six Councilmembers that elected to staggered, whe era eand rs em and e ci reun cityaha yare o ye ever incorpor May ba you dbe ty ha rsMan two ba nt oran o ye artw aare that sety yyear s en to s,held. n, se s, to co d on the d city four-year terms whereatio every two years, municipal elections are Since ay mun d ted munar s en elec cond icipa re Fulto icis,pa to staggere Mat elec mlun orath theahas ndte a pr th ac on n County ayar pro-ente intlte red uct d t ou dtions ac into oreth o re o-uc d, icipwith ele rata to con held incorporation, the city haseentered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) an into are rm tu inter ele . Sinc al duc atct int al gov unou ion rm sharraeta an base ttu wal an in ct our el co ergo co shar ared ici d on awa as s ec mun enta st areetio paernm e eltoec sour st of icipa a no proof ofelections. l ve arata icip te agre lun Fulton County conduct municipal Up 2021, the IGA was l elec ele he no thuntil rn cond rg of sta eme nsld. tions shar al elcost eenu m -re -rethe over ct nt (IGA thetoactu tegg str e of . eUp en str ion nduc fund Sin d to fund ucco uc e he until ered )ar mth ta ucof with num nm s.ec celd 2021 be cost l to tu tu , fla agen Up ber , tio gin m ofre based on awas pro-rataal share the number of electors the city that was then applied , flatin ting re re the rnu of con of reta m nstil be IGA elec un . Since sta,gger t re duc em un ra in ele . Up t cost tors sulte tingsumun m in the ct r of rate icipa crea l ag a no-rinc was enre 2021 ltedteicipa red, ed, efun orsthat un, til city t (IG elin icipof ase $2 oftions se d ec the actual cost conducting municipal elections. In 2021, the lun basis cost for IGA l elec ele flat emA) th20 inof .96 was a ne $2 rate prin pr e IG to ththe ctal a ne strucof then enwi om of .9 . pe own ow om e rs el In 21A ion $2.9 ture resu app 2021 ar 6 n cit th ec t (IG in r 6 pt , th s. Inbasi per , the pted perly reelection. ar elper co yth ele$2.96 ed tio regis $43,0 gis ectio theatci lied ly the was a no-refund, flat ratelted of registered voter for new eto st in A) w 20ns tere ction s .fee redgiThe tere a nea of IGwa nu 21 increase vote m Nove No A co ty th nsnu s for wa ,In stete $43, mer 00$4 erou s. Afrly vem ,dor3, 000,r for thcost s the . vo 20 000, prom the th e Af re IGA at m or 10 st w ith elec 21 te en ou ba s pted d be 103% te structure resulted in a nearly $43,000, or 103%, costsrise 2019. This significant be cit r fotion. r muc rise 3%or 10 was ,sis sfrom vo apth r min the r 15 citiz own elec r th erou 15, 20 the fo th of inen teeThe plien e rnum new 3% cost, srise uchize,ns s ,citize cosis ed toas ba r ele fo fee 2021hnspu to tions from in co for ct ,2019 llow 21 st of rissts llowirng . Afte to s pu re bli increase prompted numerous citizens to request the city to consider conducting our fo requ , th e ap to qu . c Co , This muc bl r in ion est in e C thst November esto g co icthe froco uncil ounccomm el. ec e IGA plied ifica qu tre coh Th tione co cocity th m sign urspub e es 15, 2021 con 20fro m en for th to men cit side tyth e oflicurcom se own elections. After much public comment, discussion, and deliberation during thests eetin 19.mTh nt e men m t,mdis n. w t,il disc , Cou recon of ee to the follo fe duc Th ussio ncil e co “T g, “T cu ci t, e ting 20 is mee co tin co n, e IG nduc he wing ty sig.nif di theexpressed our ting, 19 g, thandssi nswith nd delib onsc course to grouhe grthe the ideco Co November 15, 2021, Council meeting, informally agreement erat ucncil t: us Thicant new fee A Cou , an oupCouncil ecilCou r gco un sio con t: infor p of durin nsthe d ion coun ofco duc n, nderuc is sig dean mall id un 6 t: nific yinf nc libd expr wi of cilm cilmem or will be tinnd erat the following course conduct: co ilall messe be6 co “Theof g uc inyfodex deion emllbe agre grou our ant prp eme libnter ocesbers, rm ocofes6prwill nvenconv du with pr ales tin bes [o tw ly se ed [(t con iog [of loo ened cou o rs,dtw exdprag atrin vene the g our n du Cs ou f lo o Co emb sta ha “The group ofncilm 6 will be convened was previously identified ff[(tha esse ok sta uncil kin[(that ncil staff ring [(tha as two ers, red t ff t wa was em em prev mem g inm intoinco th processth s pr en iousl be ag thewitwo ithginmem th wwill yt ev to iden rs, an in awco [of bers as with e ret em be e gr councilmembers, two staff members, and two citizens)] and they start the look co two , and ioutified nd a pr inggr oup as two ou drs, sly evide ent w up an tw citize con Councilthwith uc upleuctinnd io thepco aninto o cit leco duc and ns)] dreturn g us tin ting nt and of ou d tw e co process [of looking into our own elections] – but will to the ly ith ifie our ize inmaconducting they g to of week own r owou onsci iddenas will start m enwee ple elec )]tizan The m of mcou n ele r ]ow suto the sw tions tiftw un sure toee reen grou ends)] ks to iedoas ity arun e “g “g but itygive giv nion to and Council Th within ap couple weeks to the Council an of–ct the of the than give will retu ose roup elobjectives thos e idea toofensu areksth ey the gi ec th s] rn up” co Cou Stroac ob looe with to e ve d e ob –tio the com ” co re e the thos ncil ll ey Sta Co bu jec kin th ok an start two nst ]wi obje ey ity idea un ce eCouncil gloresonate tives ing sfo nsobjectives jewhat the group and ensure those with the and ns ctive of the fo Cou – llbu cil ctso y tomun Ingl ist ist willthsta are r.” reso rettu e ed ive look re an edfor.” obje r.” nate ing nc lis held heIng s re ide ld wrn with of C na and is anfor.” il an Thecommunity rt the ill sre toof wha a fe a ofid ctive te d of sowi “gro the are looking t the Cou a few thrn TaCo up” Tamm na tu e wm th cil ouncilm th mmun ea tewh ncil e asibsiste m and feasibifecon to th obth dtin y Lo wat of ee y membe of Stacey ithth jec embe tinncilm ilitee e IngliFe wit; y stu we gs towiemb gsCou e tiv t; Lo slity haCo and RickPaul aners obes to fo rsMRick andrs The “group” consisted ofTam Councilmembers Rick Mohrig and Moore; staff members t th Fe Rick d un je of dy mydyLow fo cit Moh ib asibilityasstu held a rm . Onit; cil . e rm oh ilit rig ize ci On ula few Cou and and ctives of and M rig y tiz ul ns mee Pau Aprilcitizens April citize te thns Comand ohldrig atAmick enLisa an Mar Co tings ounc Moo ncil eMar Staceyfeas InglisCo and C Tammy Lowit; and Cauley. The group to e 18, 20 th Mar kskAm form 18Mark mitt Pa staff mem Amic ob an and ek ob ulate ibilityunstud ilm , 2022 ulre; cil as itte jec asmto k d and ee ick the 22 M bers co Am e Lisa Pa obje y. tiv je oo , On (M an (M Cau to ctive held aFeas few co meetings objectives ofct action to conduct es , thplan ulreM April w ic ley. a d kLisan ive EF )theand nduc ndto ;grou an ucformulate hethe 18, Co The C) sta es and 2022 ibility oore d of spla twh thEF Cou plan ad un ffp;mem “toC ,itthe he an its et Com t April Ca “tncil erCouncil cil actio itsmitte Cou r itthe Lisule ow o reform d re ec n nc exec ex n ow fo feasibility On 18, 2022, formally created the Milton Election sta to vie e pl a of is is (MEF con n rm ut be il y. Coustudy. fe an tio viewally crea Cau ff m rs ac duc C)un ut allfoyrm ncil as mun m “toas asib w an tTh ale ion, liaion,n lia ofnac ey. iblfe asto ted cral d man grTh e,w icireview the le, bo ea totio and ouep embers as ly iprevie ther pal ic bo Feasibility Committee (MEFC) and make recommendation to the Mayor and Milto akdem bil e in mak co tecrd al itbi“to the infthwhe lity n conduc is th e ity Elec ele feas n ea nd el reco ak , th re pr fo tion th ible, , gr to and ct t fe uc itsde coend te actic ed em both oup prac mm or own ionec cotnd M tionstical remation alan fede a iltoen otboth otpractically sprac Council as to ra whether it isrm feasible, and for the city toth al allytic ram icipa ta grd hetions enm her co exec the lyfinancially, l, mun king takin lou elec r co MEle aldly ciallco da May an ution stagr mto finan co ilto or p. Th ction uct a state p. Th ,l,un tio ennda liabi intogand ns teou takin an fin ns co ide g , an inns an totioth and conduct itsun own municipal into consideration cost-benefit, process and nand into id at dy, e fo co tylity, toide fotaking othe as the cia finfor . , an d co city ty. mal side cu d elections cora recon etoMayElection cus ratioer nto an infor lly the ratio co nscon s ofratio side ns n tio .” io cifo unty unty cost of grou ider theor an alr ly, Thns ns.” -ben,efit, execution, liability, and other considerations.” MEFC consists of the same members th p. The e.”MTh n at The e federal, el theThe feth co MEF focuele focit proc eCMsists ase iostctthe C EF s of r ess state, and con y andMayd nbe ibifelity ionec th tionsibility or an EFns cone ib sfeas Cof coufocus as the informal group. The of the feasibility study isassolely on co municipal elections aseto ar ci ststu fit, sam are stud nty elec e leg ist d cou co ysole ebe sthe nty. yilit stu pr fitbersty to mem isdy ns ofist tions are lega is so allle dy thsthe ly lel on y ga eofsam neoc mun reto ,es isyso llybe federal, state, county elections are legally required conducted by lly requ prsoc icipa and qu Meand re thee tions on l ire elec le ired qu M m es ly m to d sa th be un irebe emas to onici con m tho odo d to ducted bers s and county. eTh m pa co un by licelecte m be em the ndco log The fe e fed ucnd asoiblogy ions as bers teducby ipal el as lity ility stu y ectio ted thby proc procibi esse study e ns as dy Me essedo s tho ap ex th as appr pr e pes aslog ex oa oach wellywell as rts. Thrts. Th Thepe co cons feas es as, co , coch ibility ese stud are nducnducnsisted Methodology areyede app detah tin processes ofed ting ist of re g int revie taroac asRe ilecon inof well erd vie terv wirelevant d siste d consisted as, conile Revie view vie The feasibility study approach reviewing laws, documents, and ngrelev in wreinlev ie expe wsrevie duc thein theof wdswing ting rts. Thes gant an inter su re subss and Toew an an va ofdeta bsview are re had ge , doc ec reof processesToas as, interviews and having discussions with subject matter law ec vin havin letlaws iled uments, tio gewell t aconducting havi valeinvathe nstio t a be and disgussionsnts,lado bele subs wou bens benggdisc ws, ections cudo tterinntthe laws, lant tter un ssisc with mect experts. wo These are subsections below. lddetailed w belolow low. cudi on Rev en . subj un uld s, us w. ne cu iew s ts, de do sio wi mat de d ne of rele ed to men deep ed anter th w ns rstlaw d van suith andi cuoc de anrst umen men to ad bjesu adthe din dive Toep s, get ctbjm ts, and gdoc ts,and aof podiv ofng ts,dprocesses of re todocuments, ebett an relaws, att ter erinund Review relevant ec thume ste toheersta po thents, apr e re and d int steld ndoc in ginofco mat wou pro eoto qurequ onothGeorGgia d nee ces presponsibilities rgndin ses the ter ndthe d ndrequirements es rose tounderstanding ia’sco require mire To get aon better the city e Seere ’s uc ce enm irem tinuc ssses elof tsand en deep divethe Seadh crettoele g tin in ct ec and an cretar con g ents mun tsdan resp duc tionting ion arin into onsib re un ici would need to adhere municipal elections, the MEFC took a y conducting Geo yto sp munm ilities the d re paicl lip of St law of rgia’ on icipa w sla(Ti posted on s elec Sta city sp sibilit ele elec s (Title alct tion tle tions te e’ elion laws the Secr ies ’satFir 21 theon sib ec deep dive into Georgia’s election laws 21 Elections), as well as documents s Fir(Title (Title MEF th 21ctEle etary of s, ilit ef 21Ele tio,th C es citya Elec ietook ly ef nse, M State’s Firef tions lybs we ion th ct ), w as th s), EF e city well ions eb ly website posted on the Secretary of State’s Firefly election officials). eM C EF webite asfor as sit(archives doc to site(a ),we e ume ok a nts (arc rc(a C llw hive hiv as s foras rces to el do elec hive ok l fo tion ascu rsele a offic men do ials). forct tsg e elion ectio | cu P am of3n en fic ialfic of s). ts ials). 3|Pag e 3|P age 3| Pag e
NDUCTING
ILTON CO TUDY OF M IONS FEASIBILITY S IPAL ELECT IC UN M N ITS OW
By
ittee:
lity Comm
on Feasibi
Milton Electi
Mark Amick y Lisa Caule lis Stacey Ing wit Lo y mm Ta g hri Rick Mo Paul Moore
1, 20 December
11770 Haynes Bridge Rd. 12305 Crabapple Rd. 770.299.8225
‘RISK-REWARD’ Records show Milton election report reshaped before council presentation
22
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ELECTIONS Questions surround appointment of election member subpoenaed in 2020 vote probe
Page 9 GRAPHIC BY DIONNA WILLIAMS/APPEN MEDIA
Mark Amick and Lisa Cauley, two private residents on the Milton Municipal Election Feasibility Committee, formally presented the group’s recommendation to the City Council last December. Their presentation was loosely based on a report created by Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis. It was missing a few things, though, like Inglis’ risk-award analysis and an accurate cost estimate.
MILTON, Ga. — As members of Milton’s election advisory committee, two private residents recommended to the City Council last December that the city should run its own election. Their presentation, and the report provided afterward, did not paint the full picture. Mark Amick, one of a number of people subpoenaed in the 2020 Fulton County election probe, and Lisa Cauley, president of the Fulton County Republican Women group, each made their way to the podium Dec. 5 with a presentation that excluded portions of a comprehensive draft report. The original report was created by Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis prior to the meeting. Inglis, one of two city staff members on the Milton Municipal Election Feasibility Committee,
See RECORDS, Page 8
FILE PHOTO
All eyes on Milton As Milton pursues running its own municipal election, other North Fulton cities are paying attention. Some have allocated money in their 2024 budgets to follow suit. The City of Atlanta is watching too. In April, Milton City Manager Steve Krokoff wrote to the council that an Atlanta official informed him that they would be watching how Milton handles its municipal election. “As pioneers in this process, we know that all eyes are on us, and failure is not an option,” Krokoff wrote.